THE EFFECT OF HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN ON DIFFERENT PHASES OF HEALING OF ISCHEMIC FLAP WOUNDS AND INCISIONAL WOUNDS IN SKIN

Several studies have revealed a positive effect of treatment of ischae mic wounds and flaps with hyperbaric oxygen. We studied the effect of 100% oxygen (2.4 ATA) for 90 min daily on different phases of healing ischaemic and normal incisional wounds in rats. Hyperbaric oxygen on d ay 0-3 significantly increased almost all the force parameters of isch aemic flap wounds by 41-57% after 10 days of healing. On the other han d, when the treatment was continued until day 9 the positive effect on the wound healing was abolished. Furthermore, when hyperbaric oxygen was given on days 4-9 there was a tendency towards a decrease in the b iomechanical parameters. Hyperbaric oxygen had no effect on the healin g of normal incisional wounds.